329 
NOTES AND COMMENTS. 
PRESENTATION TO MR. C. CROSSLAND. 
At the recent meeting of the Yorkshire Mycological Com- 
mittee at Sanclsend. the members took the opportunity of 
making a presentation to their secretary, Mr. Charles Crossland, 
by way of practically acknowledging his twenty-one years’ 
connection with the committee as secretary. The gift con- 
sisted of a beautiful silver salver, bearing the following in- 
scription : ‘ Presented to Mr. Charles Crossland by the mem- 
bers of the Mycological Committee of the Yorkshire Naturalists’ 
Union, in recognition of his long services as secretary and 
recorder, October, 1914.’ The presentation came as a surprise 
to the recipient. Mr. Crossland has always been held in the 
highest esteem, not only by the mycolcgical, but by every 
other branch of this widely-known natural history society. 
The presentation was made by Mr. George Massee, V.M.H., 
F.L.S., etc., of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, and was 
suitably acknowledged. Mr. Massee has been Chairman of the 
Committee since 1899. 
MUSEUMS AND NATIONAL SERVICE. 
In the Museums Journal for October, Dr. Bather writes on 
‘ Museums and National Service,’ in which he demonstrates 
the practical value of museums to the nation, even in war time. 
He concludes, ‘ had we been unable to discover in our museums 
anything of direct economic or practical value, we should still 
find them of service to the community in so far as they em- 
phasise the importance of those facts and principles which form 
the ultimate base of our technical crafts, or in so far as they 
withdraw our attention from the dust of the world to those 
objects and ideals of perennial loveliness which are the lode- 
star of our lesser arts. In time of stern crisis and distressful 
thoughts, it is Well that museums should offer a place of calm 
retreat wherein men may be reminded of the steadfast and 
increasing purpose that runs through the ages, or where they 
may refresh their hearts and renew their strength in con- 
templation of that heritage of beauty which it is now the 
privilege of each one of us to defend.’ 
SYNONYMY. 
In some notes on the Synonymy of Boisduval’s N. American 
species of Lycaenidae, appearing in The Entomologist’ s Record 
for September, we learn that Epidemia zeroe Bdv., becomes 
a synonym of mariposa Reak. Owing to a peculiar error this 
name had become interchanged with nivalis Bdv., although the 
original description is perfectly clear regarding both species. 
With regard to Epidemia nivalis Bdv., Boisduval’s name 
becomes valid for the species heretofore known as zerce, with 
1914 Nov. 1. 
U 
